Another Bride, Another June

The well-known song written by Kahn and Donaldson “Another bride/Another June/Another sunny honeymoon/Another season, Another reason/for makin’ whoopee” is a reality for heterosexuals.But for lesbians and gays , marriage is not even possible unless they marry in the nineteen states and Washington, D.C. where same-sex marriage is legal.

The State of Many LGBT Unions

Those nineteen states are: CA, CT, DE, Hi, IA, IL, ME, MD, MA, MN, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OR, PA, RI, VT, WA, and Washington, D.C. If you’re LGBT, don’t even think about marrying in the South, although there are pending cases opposing the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage or the strip of states from North to South in the Mid-west.

In twelve states, judges have issued rulings in favor of the freedom to marry, with many of these rulings now “stayed as they proceed to appellate courts: In AR, ID, MI, OK, TX, UT, VA, and WI judges have struck down marriage bans and in IN, KY, OH, and TN, judges have issued more limited pro-marriage rulings.

Confusion Everywhere

In some states like Wisconsin, some same-sex couples were left in limbo because a Federal District Ct. Judge Barbara B. Crabb ordered a halt to same-sex marriage a week after she struck down the state’s same-sex ban as unconstitutional (as in many states, a federal district court is required to follow the guidance by the Supreme Court). Are those marriage valid?Similarly, The United States Supreme Court also halted same-sex marriage in Utah.

It seems so unfair to tell gays and lesbians who have waited so long to be treated equally and have earned the right to finally marry that they can not do so. Or, in effect, tease them by striking down a constitutional ban in their state only to find it stayed a week later by the whim (so it seems) of the court?

Growing Acceptance of Same-Sex Marriage

Despite the resistance of the National Organization for Marriage and other religious organizations, a CBS News Nationwide Poll in February this year, found that 56% of Americans reported that they thought same-same marriage should be legal.

While a majority of Democrats and independent voters support same-sex marriage, a majority of Republicans do not, unless they are under thirty.

Republicans Slowly Coming Around

In order to survive, the Republican Party is realizing that it has to change its platform about gay marriage. Richard Tisel, openly gay candidate running for Congress features his husband in political ads, Mr. Dan Innis, a New Hampshire candidate for Congress features his husband in a Video, and Carl DeMaio in his campaign ad includes his significant other.

Marriage Is Seasonless

Marriage should be seasonless, “not just another June/another season/” but the reason should be love, regardless of the month or state.

When Your Child Is Gay: What You Need To Know

For more detailed advice, see book, co-authored with a mother of a gay son and a psychiatrist, Jonathan L. Tobkes, M.D.

Wesley Cullen Davidson

Wesley Cullen Davidson is an award-winning freelance writer and journalist specializing in parenting as well as gay and lesbian content. For the past two years, Wesley has concentrated almost exclusively on the lesbian and gay community, specifically on advising straight parents of gay children on how to be better parents and raise happy, well-adjusted adults